History

UNSW Canberra has a proud history of association with the Australian Defence Force, providing the best education for the best leaders since 1967. In that year UNSW entered into an agreement to establish the Faculty of Military Studies at the Royal Military College (RMC) at Duntroon to deliver degree programs in arts, science and engineering, and into an association with the Royal Australian Naval College to present approved courses.

In 1974 the Federal Government announced its intention of establishing a single tertiary institution for the Australian Defence Force and sought the assistance of UNSW in setting up the institution to ensure academic integrity. Negotiations led in 1981 to an agreement between the Commonwealth and UNSW, with the University undertaking to establish a University College within the ambit of the proposed Australian Defence Force Academy. In 1982 an Interim Academy Council was set up, in accordance with the agreement, to oversee the development of the Academy in cooperation with UNSW. The Academy Council was established in 1985 and the Australian Defence Force Academy opened in January 1986.

In December 2003 an agreement was signed between the Commonwealth and UNSW for the provision of educational services at ADFA for the next 10 years. Arising from this agreement the Academy Council was discontinued and an advisory council known as the Australian Defence Force Academy Consultative Council was established.

In December 2009 a new agreement was signed between the Commonwealth and UNSW for the provision of educational services at ADFA, until 2023. The ADFA Consultative Council was discontinued and the ADFA Working Group established.